The announcement that Ubuntu is to seperate from GNOME from its new release is perhaps the perfect answer to the spat which took place last month over Canonicals contributions to the GNOME desktop. Personally, however, I feel that this move comes as no surprise and is 100 % the correct thing to do in the circumstances. From licensing H.264 to OEMs, to the partner repository to the Software Centre, Canonical has consistently seen itself as destinct from the larger Linux community. This is the latest...

I just posted some feedback off to Dell, expressing my "disappointment" over their decision to remove Ubuntu-based computers from their website. I didn't think to copy it, but it went something like:

I am disappointed by the decision to remove Ubuntu... I am sure there is a market... if you give Ubuntu and Windows equal coverage then many entry-level users would be interested... you shouldn't be bending to Windows' monopoly...

Anyway, I gave the website a rating of 2/5 and...

Apple's announcement that a Mac OS App store would be a major presence is Mac OS X 10.7 Lion was perhaps unsurprising. After all, what more would you expect from the company which essentially introduced the idea on the iPhone and now the iPad. What is surprising is that Apple has been beaten to it by none other than Ubuntu, an OS whose unashamed vision is to take on and beat Apple at their own game.

Users of Ubuntu 10.10 will doubtless be aware of the inclusion in the Software Centre...

Those of us who use Ubuntu will be aware that Ubuntu has got a "partner repository", a repository which contains proprietary software which, by nature, cannot be included in the main repository. It is an idea which I personally think is excellent, as it allows software which goes against the principals of Open Source to be included for the benefit of standard users.

It's such a good idea that I'm amazed no-one else has copied it. Those who use a distro outwith the Ubuntu...